1Vs tells of adam his stori;
2O suns þat he had thirtti,
3And he had doghtres als fel,
4Wit outen caym and abel.
5þe sister giuen was to þe broþer,
6þe lagh moght certayn be non oþer;
7Sua wald drightin, and behoued nede
8To do þair kin al for to sprede.

9Vnseli caym þat ai was saked,
10Wit god and man þan was he hatted,
11He als-sua wit his oxspring;
12þai luued our lauerd nan-kin thing,
13For þai him warryd wit wickud dedis.
14He þam for-soke in al þer nedis.
15To wrik þare wik wil þai thoght,
16Agh of him na stod þam noght.
17þat boght þai siþen wijf and barn,
18wit water ware þai all for-farn,
19Als ȝee sal here how hit bi-fell
20Quen i of noe flod sal tell;
21For all war ille and nan war gode,
22þei drunkend all in þe flode.

26Adam had pastd nine hundret yere,
27Nai selcut þof he wex vn-fere.

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28For-wroght wit his hak and spad
29Of him-self he wex al sad.
30He lened him þan a-pon his hak,
31Wit seth his sun þus gat he spak: -
32"Sun," he said, "þou most now ga
33To paradis þat i com fra
34Til cherubin þat es þe yateward."
35"Yai, sir, wist i wyderward
36þat tat vneuthvncuth contre ware,
37þou wat þat i was neuer þare."
38þus he said, "i sal þe sai
39How-gate þou sal tak þe wai;
40Toward þe est end of þis dale
41Find a grene gate þou sale;
42In þat way sal þou find forsoth
43þi moders and mine our bather slogh,
44Foluand thoru þat gresse gren,
45þat euer has siþen ben gren,
46þat we com wendand als vn-wis
47Quen we war put o paradis
48vn-to þis wreched warld slade,
49þar i first me self was made;
50Thoru þe gretnes of our sin
51Moght na gres groue siþen þar-in;
52þe falau slogh sal be þi gate
53O paradis right to þe yate."
54"Fader," he said, "sai me þi will,
55Quat sal i sai þat angel till?"
56"þou sal him tell .I. am vnfere,
57For I haue liued so mani a yere,
58Ai in strijf and soruuing stad,
59þat o mi lijf I am al sad;
60þou prai him þat he word me send
61Quen I sal o þis werld wend;
62Anoþer erand sal þar be,
63þat he wald send me word wit þe,

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64Quedir þat I sal haue it in hij
65þe oile me was hight o merci,
66þe tim þat i lest paradis;
67Well i knau now mi folijs,
68A-gain godds wil haue i wroght,
69And þat sum-del haue .I. now boght;
70Mi soru has ai siþen ben neu,
71Nou war it time o me to reu."
72Seth went him forth wit-outen nai
73To paradis þat ilk way.
74þe slogth he fand þat him gan wiss
75tilward þe ȝate of paradis;
76Quen he þar-of son had a sight,
77Al was he gloppend for þat light;
78þe mikel light þat he sagh þar
79A brennand fire he wend it ware.
80He seuid him, als his fader badd,
81And ȝode forth and was noght raadd.
82þis angel at þe ȝatte he fand
83And asked him of his errand.
84Seth þen sette him spell o-nend
85And tald him warfor þat he was send,
86Tald him of his fader care,
87Als he him taght sum yee herd are,
88to send him word wen he suld dei,
89to liue moght he na langar drei;
90And wen þat drightim had him tight
91To send him þe oile þat he him hight.
92Quen cherubin þis errand herd
93Mikelik he him answard:
94"Ga to þe ȝatte," he said, "and lote
95þi hed inwar, þi self wit-outte,
96And tent to thinges at þi might
97þat sal be sceud vn-to þi sight."
98Quen seth a quil had loked in,
99He sagh sua mikel welth and win,

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100It es in erth na tung may tell,
101þat flour, þat frutte, þat suette smell,
102O blis and ioy sua mani thing;
103In middes þe land he sagh a spring
104Of a well þat es vtenemes,
105þat oute of ran four gret stremmes;
106Gyson, fison, tigre, eufrate,
107þis four mas al þis erth wate;
108Out-ouer þat well þan lokes he,
109And sagh þar stand a mikel tre,
110Wit braunches fel, o bark al bare,
111Was þar na leue on, less na mare.
112Seth bigan to thinc for-qui
113þat þis tre bi-com sua dri;
114O þe steppes vmthoght he þan
115þat welud war for sin of man;
116þat ilk schil did him to min
117þis tre was dri for adam sin.
118He com þan to þat angel scene,
119And sceud him al þat he had sene;
120Quen he his sight al had him tald,
121He badd him eft ga to be-hald.
122He loked in eft and stod þer-oute,
123And sagh þe thing þat gart him doute;
124þis tre, þat i of for-wit said,
125A neddur hit hade al vmbilaid.
126Cherubin, þat angel blyth,
127Bad him ga lok þe thrid syth;
128þis tre was of a mikel heght,
129Him thoght þan, at þe thrid sight,
130þat to þe sky it raght þe toppe;
131A new born barn lay in þe croppe,
132Bondon wit a sueþelband,
133þar him thoght it lay suelland;
134He was al ferd wen he þat sei
135And to þe rotte he kest his he,

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136Him thoght it raght fra erth til hell,
137Quare vnder he sagh his broþer abell;
138In his saul he sagh him þare
139þat caim slogh for-wit ful o care.
140He went agayn þan for to scau
141To cherubin al þat he sau.
142Cherubin wit chere sa milde
143Bigan to tel him o þat child.
144"þis barn," he said, "þat þou has sene,
145Is goddes sun wit-outen wene;
146þi fader sin now wepes he
147þat he sal clens sum time sal be,
148Quen þe plenteȝ sal cum o time;
149þis is þe oile þat was hight him;
150Til him and til his progeni,
151Wit pite sal he sceu his merci."
152Quen seth had vnderstanden wele
153þat angel said him, ilk dele,
154His leue wald tak at cherubin.
155Pepins þen he gaue him thrin,
156þe quilk a þe appel tre he nam
157þat his fader ete of, adam.
158"þi fader," he said, "þan sal þou say
159þat he sal dei þe thrid day
160Efter þat þou be commun ham,
161And als he was turn in-to lam;
162Bot þou sal tak þis pepins thre,
163þat .I. toke o þat appel tre,
164And do þam vnder his tong rote,
165þai sal til mani man be bote;
166þai sal be cedre, ciprese, and pine,
167O þam sal man haue medicen.
168þe fader in cedre þou sal take,
169A tre of heght, þat has na make;
170And cipres, be þe suete sauur,
171Bitakens ur suete sauueur,

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172þe mikel suetnes þat es þe sun;
173þe pine to bere a frut es won;
174Mani kirnels of a tre mast
175Gain gifes o þe holi gast.

176Seth was of his errand fain
177And sune com til his fader again.
178"Sun," he said, "has þou sped oght
179Or has þou ani merci broght?"
180"Sir, cherubin þe hali angel
181þat es yateward, þe gretes wel,
182Sais it sal negh þe warlds end,
183Ar þat oile þe may be send,
184Thoro birth of a blisful child
185þat sal fra harm þe werld schild;
186O þi ded he bad me sai
187Sal be to dai þe thrid dai."
188Adam was for þis tiþand blith,
189Sua glad was he neuer his sith;
190Quen he herd he suld liue namare,
191þan he logh, bot neuer are;
192And þus on godd be-gan to cri: -
193"Lauerd, inogh now liued haue .i.,
194þou tak mi saul out of þe flexs
195And do it ware þi wils es."
196Quat of þis werld he was ful sad
197þare neuer a dai þar in was glad,
198þat liued nine hundret yeir and mare,
199And al his liue site and care;
200And leuer was siþen to lenger in hell
201þan langer in þis liue to duell.

202Adam, als him was tald be-forn,
203Was ded apon þe thrid morn;
204Doluen he was thoru seth his sun
205In þe dale þat hat ebron;
206þe pipins war don vnder his tung,
207þar ras o þam thre wandes yong;

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208Son of a nellen heght þai ware,
209þai stod þan still and wex na mare;
210ful many yeir ilike grene,
211Halines was o þam sene.
212Stil ai stod, þai wandes thre
213Fra adam tim until noe;
214Fra noe quen þe flod ras
215Til abraham þat haly was;
216Fra abraham ai stil stod þai
217Til moyses þat gaf þe lai;
218Euer stod þai still in an,
219Wit-outen wax, wit-outen wain.
220Na mare o þe wandes now
221Bot stori sal i rede ȝow.

222þe first was born was rogh as hare,
223þe toþer child was smeth and bare.
224He þat was rugh was rede wit-al,
225Esau þai did him call.
226Iacob hight þe yonger broþer,
227His moder him luued mare þan þat to þer,
228For-þi ne was he noþer quar sent
229Bot to þe huse ai tok he tent,
230þe hus to kepe and ma þe mett,
231Mast to þat mister was he sett.
232þe fader luued esau for fode,
233For-qui þat he was archer gode,
234And, quen he wald, ai was he bun
235To fete his fader venison,
236And he was als þe for-mast born.
237He delt als wit tilth o corn,
238He cuth well als o waith sere,
239O best o wode, o foghul riuere;
240His fader þat old was and vnfere
241Oft he fed wit gode dinere.
242God was þe werld in þat sesun
243And mikel it bar o benisun,
244On god men þat well held þe lai
245On childer þat he it wald on lai;
246O blesing mai man bisin take
247Bi childer of þis ysaac,
248How yonger o þir tua
249þe blissing stal his broþer fra;
250Bot first es gode þat it be tald
251How esau his forbirth sald.

252Esau went for till hunt,
253A day, sum he was oft wunt,
254Bath on fer and ner he soght,
255Bot þat dai wayth þan gatt he noght,
256For haf man neuer sa gode graith
257It es noght ilk dai, dai o waith,

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258Bot riueli þat dai þat men failes
259Abute his waith most trauailles;
260Quen he al weri was for-gan
261Ham he tok his wai o-nan;
262For hauk es eth, als i here say,
263To reclaym þat has tint his pray.
264His broþer he fand giueand his tent
265To grayth a riche pulment;
266"O þis kin mete now, broþer," he said,
267"Giue me sum part þat þou has graythid,
268Mette and drinc þou has to will,
269Bot lang es siþen I ete my fill."
270Iacob þan said, "godd wit it,
271To þe haf noght now graythid it;
272þe mete mi moder me bi-taght,
273For þou and i er selden saght,
274Abute our forbirth er we wrath;
275Bot þou sal suere me a nath,

276þat þou sal neuer forth fra to night
277In þi forbirth do claim na right."
278"For-birth," he said, "quat serues me?
279Broþer, atty will all sal be,
280For hunger loo i dei right now."
281þan suer a nath him esau,
282And for his fill o þat potage,
283Als a wreche, has sald his heritage.
284He ete and dranc and went his wai
285And tint his blissing fra þat day;
286Na bote it was þof him for-thoght,
287Godd wild it ware his þat it boght.

288Sir ysaac þat dughti man,
289Vnfere and eld a-pon him ran,
290O bodi failles him þe might,
291And of his eigen alsua þe sight;
292þe man þat sua wit eld es dight
293His dai es turned him to night,

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294And ha men neuer ben sa bald,
295Quen þat sua bicums ald,
296His blode þan wexus dri and cald,
297Til vnwelth windes al his wald;
298þe heued biginnes for to scak,
299His hend vnquemli for to quak,
300It crepes crouland in his bak,
301And þe banes for to crak,
302þe freli fax to fal of him,
303And þe sight to wax well dim;
304þe front it fronces þat was scene,
305þe nese it droppes ai bi-tuine,
306þe teth to rote, þe aand at stinc,
307Allan to liue trauail him thinc;
308þan es eth þe fote to spurn,
309Quen he falles wit his auen turn;
310He praises al thing þat es gon
311O present thing he praisses non;
312þan es eth to mak him wrath,
313To saxtend be es sumdel lath;
314To wiss man wit his auen witt
315He haldes nan sa wise als it;
316Quen all wittes es him wan,
317And will þat welthes mast of an,
318And na wil mai hald man in pai,
319Baldlik þat dar i sai,
320He þat in suilk stat es stad
321Es na gli mai mak him glad.
322Eild es þou a selcut thing,
323þat al it gerns þat er ying;
324Quen þai it haue þai are vnfayn,
325And wald ha youthed þan again;
326þan wald þai be als þai war ar,
327Bot sua it mai be neuer mare.

328Sua has eild now þis ysaac ledd
329þat he in langur lijs in bedd;

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330Him wantes sight, als i said yow,
331And cald on his son esau.
332"Esau, life son," he said,
333"Ga lok þi tacle be puruaid,
334And faand to stalk þe sa nere
335þat þou mai drep me sum dere;
336If þou me dere flesse ani gete,
337Gladli wald .i. þar-of ete;
338Leue sun þou has hidir-till
339Gladli don þi fader will,
340þou ert schotter wit þe beist,
341Bath in feild and in forest,
342If þou mai bring me any beist
343þou graith me ful fair and eist;
344þar-efter now mi langes sare,
345þar i lig her now, in bedd o care;
346Sun," he said, ".i. will not lei,
347It bes not lang þat i ne dei;
348Tac, bring me now sum venisum,
349And þou sal haue mi benison."
350"Sir," he said, "blithlik and son,
351If godd wil, sal þi will be don."

352His moder tok tent to ysaac
353And herd þe wordes þat he spac.
354Sco wist o lang liue was he noght,
355A wyel sco hir vmbithogt.
356Iacob hir sun cald hir vnto,
357And þusgat til him þan said sco.
358"Mi leif sun, i will þe warn,
359For-qui þou ert mi derest barn;
360þi fader has bidden þi broþer gang
361To get him waith and duell not lang,
362þat, if he ani waith mai gete,
363He suld him dight þar-of to ete,
364For war he þar-wit ans fedd,
365Ar þat he deied in car-ful bedd,

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366His benisun wald he him giue,
367For lang he wat he mai not liue.
368Bot life son, ful lath me ware
369þat he þat blissing fra þe bare,
370Vnhappi wreche has he ben ai,
371þi seli he sal noght bere a-wai;
372Bot þou sal do sun mi consail,
373Wel i wat it sal þe wail;
374Now high þe suith þat þou ne blin
375Ar þat þi broiþer be commen in,
376O kyddes fatt þou fett me tuin,
377I sal þe ken ful gode a gin;
378I sal þam dight til his be-houe,
379A mete als he was wonto loue;
380It sal him sauur al to will,
381Ete he sal þer-of his fill;
382Quen it es dight þou it him reche,
383Do now well, als i þe teche;
384þat he þe mai þe less mistru
385þou sal sai þou ert esau,
386Fra þe forest newli comen,
387Venison þou has him nommen,
388Wit dainte dight til his be-houe;
389þou bidd him rise þar-of to proue,
390þat þou haue, for þis reson,
391O þe fader his benison."

392"Moder," he said, "wis war þi lare,
393If i ne dred a-noþer fare;
394þou wat mi hid es smith and bar,
395And esau es rugh wit har;
396If mi fader þat es now blind
397Mai mi fallace oght vnderfind,
398I dred me sare, for benison
399He sal me giue his malison."
400"Do wai, leue son," rebecca said,
401"þat malison on me be laid;

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402Bot þat i badd þou bring me son."
403"Moder," he said, "it sal be don."

404.Iacob went vn to þe fald
405And broght þe bestes forwit tald;
406His moder dughtilik it dight,
407Als sco him forwit had it hight,
408And cled him, sum it was mete,
409Wit his broþer robe þat smelled suete;
410Wit a rugh skin sco hidd his hals
411and couerd þar-wit his hands als,
412þat his fader suld al-gat tru
413þat he war his sun esau:
414His moder him þis mete bitaght
415And he it suith his fader raght.
416"Fader," he said, "sitt vp and ete,
417I ha broght þi ȝerning mete."
418"And quat art þou?" þe fader said,
419"Sir, i esau, þi met es graithid."
420"And quat-kin mete?" "sir, venisun,
421Ete and giue me þi benisun."
422"How es it þou sped sa son?"
423"Godd," he said, "has herd mi bon,
424And send it suyth vnto mi hand,
425Men aght to thanc him his sand."
426"Cum nere, leue son, and latte me fele
427If þou be he i luue sa wele."
428Quen he had feld his fleirand cloth
429And graped handes and hals both,
430"þis voice," he said, "þat i here
431Es o iacob, wit-outen were,
432Bot hend and hals es als i tru
433Mi dereli suns child esau;
434þe odor o þi uestement
435It smelles als o piement,
436I sal wend forth, þou duells here,
437Mi blissing son þan sal þou bere:

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438þi breþer be þin vnderlute
439And alle þat wonnes þe a-boute;
440All þaa þat blisses þe
441Sal þam-self blessed be,
442And all þat bedes þe maliscun
443Sal bere it on þair auin crun."
444He ete and dranc þat was his will,
445And sithen his sun he cald him till,
446His brade blissing he him gaue
447þe quilk his broþer wend at haue,
448And mad him lauerd ouer all his kin;
449Bot þat was wit his moder gin,
450His moder consail was þar-to,
451And godd wald þat sco sua suld do.
452þis iacob went quan sua was don,
453And esau com efter son.
454"Fader," he said, "vp on þi bedd,
455I haue þe broght quar-of be fedd
456O venisun, .I. here þe bring,
457Ete and giue me þi blissing."
458His fader him asked, "quat art þou?"
459"þi sun," he said, "i esau."
460"Was þou not at me right now,
461And fedd me wit þi fang i trau?"
462"I?" he said, "nai, nai goddote,
463Moght i not be sua light o fote."
464Wit þis gaue ysaac a grane;
465"Sun," he said, "right nou was an
466þat first me fedd, and sythen me kist,
467And me be-suak, þat i ne wist,
468Mi benisun now has þi broiþer."
469"And fader," he said,"has þou non oþer?"
470"Nai sun, als i mot ha mede."
471"Allas! quat i am broght in nede,
472A-way he has mi blissing born,
473Sua did he als þat toþer morn;

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474He has me don oft mikel scham,
475Right-wisli es iacob his nam,
476þat es to sai, wit right langage,
477Supplanter als of heritage;
478For quen i formast born suld be,
479Wit strengh a-gain þen drou he me;
480He has me don oft vn-resun
481And no me reft mi benisun,
482Me es sua waa, almast i weede;
483Fader, þis was na broþer dede,
484Consail me, fader, how to liue."
485"Wi, quatkin consail mai i þe giue?"
486"And es þar nakin blessing left?"
487"Nai, þi broiþer it has þe reft."
488"And, fader, es þar na noþer wan?"
489"Wane," he said, "es þar bot an,
490In dew and gress sere o þorth
491Sal be þi blissing fra no forth;
492Wit erth trauaill, and sua þou do,
493And prai godd send his dew þer-to."
494"Lauerd," he said, "wat es me best,
495Mi hert bes neuer broght in rest,
496Bituixand þis iacob be slan,
497If he mai oþer be ouertan."
498þis esau wit his manace
499Oute o þe land did iacob chace;
500Quen þe moder sagh it was sua
501He soght his broþer for to sla,
502Sco send him son in-til aran,
503Til hir broþer þat hight laban,
504þar-to suiorn for hir sake,
505Til þat his broþer wreth suld slake.
506Be night flum iordan he wode
507And thoru a wildernes he yode,
508He loked war þat him war best,
509And be þe wai he tok his rest.

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510He hent a stan he fand him bi,
511And þar-on laid his hefd to li.
512In slepe he sagh stand vp a sti,
513Fra his heued right to þe ski,
514Apon þe sti þat þar was bun
515Angls climand vp and dun.
516Open him thoght þe ȝate of heuen,
517And herd o drightin suilk a steuen:
518"Godd and lauerd," he said, "i am
519Of ysaac and als of abraham:"
520"Jacob," he said, "þou sal ha tuin
521Wiues o þi auen kin,
522Tua doghters o laban, þi nem,
523þat þou sal haf wit barn-tem;
524Wit þe i sal be in al þi nede
525And gar þin oxspring wide spred;
526I sal be for þin eldres sake
527With þe, and esau for-sake."
528Wel was he gladed o þis sight,
529Fulsotht him thoght he slep þat night.
530On the morn, wen it was dai,
531Iacob ras fra þar he lai,
532And said, "our lauerd, wit-outen were,
533þat i wist noght es wonnand here;
534Her es na noþer thing," said he,
535"Bott godds hus and heuen entre."
536þe stan his heued lai on þat night,
537In takning, he is sett vp right,
538And oyel he yeett apon þat stan
539And made to godd a voo onan,
540And said, "if drightin be my freind
541And lede me in þis wai i wend,
542And mete me send, and drinc, and clath,
543And bring me again, wit-outen wath,
544Vnto mi kyth þat i com fra,
545If i find he me ledes sua,

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546Mi godd he sal be and mi king;
547And þis stan stand als in takening,
548And þis sted fra þan it sal
549Be cleped godds auen hall;
550Of all þe god he dos me weild
551Lelik his tend i sal him yeild."

552Iacob went him forth his wai,
553Faand quare thre floks o beistes lai,
554Be-side a well, a-pon a feild,
555And sagh þe well be a doun heild,
556A mikel stan apon it lai,
557þis bestes dranc þar-at ilk dai;
558þe hirdes bi þaim fand he þare,
559He spird þaim queþen þai ware.
560þai said, "sir, we ar of aran."
561"And knau yee oght," he said, "laban?"
562"Sir ya, he es bath hail and fere,
563Ya hail and sound, wit-outen were;
564His doghtur yonder i se, rachell,
565Bringand his beistes til þe well;
566For all beistes ar broght hider,
567Euer ilk dai at drinc to-geder."
568Wit þis come rachell, þat maiden,
569And iacob lifted vp þe sten,
570And spak þan wit þe damisel,
571And kythed him wit may rachell.
572"Quat art þou," he said, "lemman?"
573"Sir, mi fader es cald laban."
574Abute hir hals þan he hir hent,
575And thris he kyst hir ar he stent.
576"I am iacob, þi cosin nere,
577For þi luue am i commen here."
578þai mai quen sco can vnderstand
579þat iacob suld be hir husband,
580To laban tald sco new tiþand,
581And he him ledd in be þe hand.

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582þai frannid o þar frendes fare,
583And þam cald bath less and mare.
584Laban for fainnes did him call
585For his neueu his frendes all;
586And siþen he did him for to sai
587Quat was þe chesiun of his wai.
588"Sir, þe soth i wil þe tell,
589þi doghter for to spus, rachell."
590"þan sal þou serue me seuen yeir,
591Ar þou sal haue mi doghter dere."
592"Blithli, sir, sua sal it be."
593Fra þan wit laban duelled he,
594þe eilder sister he for-sok,
595For sco gleied, als sais þe bok;
596For to serue for rachel fre
597He was master hird of his fee;
598It was ferli in þat siquar
599How fast þai multiplid þar.
600Quen þat þe seuen yere war gane
601Iacob hasked his lemman.
602Laban said, "frend, ful blethli."
603Bot þar he did a trecheri,
604For þan he had may rachell wedd,
605Lia he stall vn-til his bedd;
606Bisid lya al night he lai,
607His vnwitand, til it was dai;
608Bot quen he wist it o þe morn,
609Ful wa was him þat he was born;
610Fra hir he ras and siked sare
611And asked wa þan broght hir þare.
612"Laban," sco said, "allas for sinn
613Qua wend he wald þus me biginn."
614þan did he laban to resun: -
615"Qui has þou don me sli tresum?"
616"Vr lagh," he said, "þat we in liue
617Wil first our elder doghter giue.

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618Bot, neuou, murn þou na wight,
619þou sal haue rachell, als i hight;
620And þat mai be nanoþer wis
621Bot yeit forþi seuen wintur seruis,
622To quils haa lya in þi bedd,
623For-soth þan sal þou rachel wedd."

624Prophet he was, sir samuel,
625Wel luued wit godd, for he was lel.

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626þe Iuus, wit þair mikel pride,
627Efter him þai sent þat tide,
628"Lauerdinges," he said, "sais me quartill
629Haf yee me fott? quat es your will?"
630"Gett vs a king." "quat, er yee wodde!
631Ha yee noght now a king ful gode,
632þat fra your faas thoru see yow ledd,
633And siþen wit riche manna yow fedd,
634And mani werkes for yow wroght?"
635"Sir," þai said, "þou sais for noght,
636Gett vs a king þat vs mai ledd,
637Als we se haf all oþer thedd."
638"Parfai," þan answard samuel,
639"Yee ar to fraward wit to dele,
640For noiþer ar ȝe war ne wise,
641Bot for your riches ouer nise.
642Nu ar yee bath in rest and pees,
643Yow langes certes haf malees,
644For-soth i sai, and sal a-wou,
645Ful sare yee sal repent yow.
646Noght yow allan, bot your oxspring,
647Sal reu ful sare your will ȝerning,
648For it es wel worthye þat qua
649Mai bere no wel ne thole na wa."

650Sare weped samuel wit þis,
651Til him com drightin, lauerd o blis,
652And thris he cald on samuel,
653"Lauerd," he said, "i here þe wel."
654"Mi folk," said drightin, "ful fraward
655þai seke þam-self o a gret ougard,
656þai ask now oþer king þan me,
657Ful ilhail sal þai it se;
658þat þai desire, þai sal it haue,
659To þair aun heued a staue.
660Omang þir puple sal þou latt
661A stalworth man þat saul haitt,

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662Wit hei schuldres bath thik and brade,
663Of him þan sal þair king be made,
664Sin þai ha þus forsaked me,
665He sal be enoynted þair king to be."

666Son þai did saul be soght,
667Funden and forth was he broght,
668He was hegher þan ani man
669Bi þe schuldres þat was funden þan.
670þis saul haue þai mad þair king,
671Wit smerl and als wit coruning.
672Ful wreþer hail to þair be-houe
673And sun on þam sa gun it proue,
674For was þar þan na langer bide,
675Men werraid þam on ilka side,
676þat þai wit-in a tuel-moth stage,
677War put vte o þair heritage.
678þan bigan þai cal and cri,
679þat godd o þam suld ha merci;
680And samuel, þat wist þair wa,
681Cald on godd for þaim al-sua.
682Drightin said, "þou fill þi horn
683Wit oile, and weind þe forth to morn,
684Vntil a man þat hatt iesse,
685In bethleem sal he funden be.
686þou sal him find in bethleem,
687Seuen suns he has to barntem,
688On o þaim þou sal ma king,
689For saul dredes me na thing: -
690For-þi wit caitiuete and care
691He sal vte o þis werld fare,
692For ar þat he be slain in wer
693þe find he sal in bodi ber,
694þat him sal trauail dai and night,
695And laithli sal his licam dight."

696"Parfai, lauerd," said samuel,
697"Ic herd noght o þat iesse tel,

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698Ne his suns ne him i knau,
699þat childs nam yee will me scau."
700"Yijs," he said, "i sal þe ken
701To knau him a-mang oþer men,
702In visage es he bright and clere,
703In red of heu, o laghand chere;
704His fader in all has suns seuen,
705þe yongest es he þat i þe neuen,
706Bath wis and hend, and o god fame."
707"Quat hatt he?" dauid es his name.
708And for þat he es warr and wis,
709I haue him chosen to þis seruis;
710His sede and his barntem
711Ouer al men i sal maintein,
712His faas sal noght a-gain him wail,
713For him ne his sal i noght fail.
714Vn-to king þou sal him smer
715Mi beniscun þan sal he ber."

716Samuel went secand þe land
717Til he þe hus o iesse faand,
718Iesse him vnderfang ful fair,
719And samuel him tald his air.
720"Cummen i am," he said, "iesse,
721An o þi suns for to se."
722"Sir," he said, "and þat mai yee,
723Your word es commament to me."
724His suns sex þat war at hame,
725All he did þam call be nam
726Bot þe yongest þat was a-wai,
727"Sir," he said, "sir iesse, sai
728Quar es þin alþer-yongest son?"
729"He es," he said, "þar he es won,
730Wit our scep apon þe lau."
731"Do fott me him, him wald i knau."
732þai did him fott, and he come skete,
733And hailsed hendli þat prophete.

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734He kneu him quen he him beheild,
735Bi takens was him forwit teld.
736Enoynted he was wit-vten bade,
737And king vte-ouer þe Iuus made.
738Bot þof he þar was smerld king,
739O þe kingrike al gouerning
740He entir-mett him in na dede,
741Bot til his schepe again he yede.
742Godds gast in him was sent
743Fra þan it was fra saul went;
744Dauid cuth on sere-kin note
745Bath he cuth on harpe and rote,
746Quen he wit his gleu him gammen,
747His scepe þam-self war sembel samen
748Of his suete gleuing for to here,
749þe men was won to drau ham nere.
750 Saul was yeitt in sted o king,
751Bot he moght do na gouerning,
752þe find was in his licam fest,
753He thold him to haue na rest.
754þan said þai all, "quat sal we do
755Wit vr king, mai haf na ro,
756He es ai vte o wite als wode.
757Hu sal we meke his menged mode?
758He es sua ful o wickedhede,
759Ful waful lijf we wit him lede."
760þan spak a godman on þat throm,
761"Bot do we littel dauid cum,
762Wit his harp, be-for þe king;
763We sal him do bath gleu and sing
764þat quils he til him tas kepe
765þe king he sal do fall on-slepe."
766Forth þan did þai dauid bring,
767Gleuand he sang be-for þe king,
768And gert him wit his melodi
769Fal on-slepe, þat was weri.

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770Quil wit gleu, and quil wit sang,
771And þus he serued saul lang,
772þat ai quen he was trauaild mast
773Thoru a wreche vn-roful gast,
774And he bigan to gleu or sing,
775Of his vn-ro he tok lething.

777to-quils come in philistiens,
778þair felun faas þat was paens,
779þar oueral þe cuntre spredd,
780þai wasted godes and awai ledd.
781þai broght wit þam goli, þat eten,
782In fule hordom þan was he geten,
783Gret he was wit-all, and hei,
784And semed sathan on to sei
785Bituix his eien, thre fote brade,
786Ful lath it was his visage made.
787O bodi gret, o granis lang,
788Vnsternli semed he be strang,
789Sex eln and mare he had on hight,
790And was all armed for to fight.
791Of his metscip was mesur nan,
792He wald ete seuen scep him an.
793"Quare es now," said he, "saul þe king?
794Moght i euer wit me wit him ming
795Suld he neuer aftur ber cron,
796I suld him sla, bi sir mahun!
797Quine cums he-self, or send his saand?
798Wit him i wald mi forces faand,
799Or send me a man to me hidder,
800þat i and he mai fight to-gidder,
801And qua oþer ouer-cum in feild
802þe toþer folk al til him yeild.
803A man o þair gains an of vr,
804If vrs mai him win in stur,

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805þat þai be vrs and þair airs;
806If þai win vrs þat we be þairs.
807And her i bede mi-self redi,
808For to fight for vr parti."
809Ilk dai he come in place,
810And batail bede wit sli manace,
811Ai quen þat þe folk him soght sau
812þam stode of him ful mikel au.
813"Allas," he said, king saul, þan,
814"Allas! quar sal we find a man
815þat dar þe fight, for mi sake,
816Again yon warlau vndertake?
817þe man þat him wald fight a-gain,
818And moght ouer-cum him wit his main,
819I suld him riche in all his lijf,
820And giue mi doghter him to wijf."
821þis herd dauid, and forth can stand,
822"Sir king," he said, "hald me couenand,
823I tru truli in godds might,
824þat i sal vnder-tak þe fight,
825Agains yon gerard þat es sa grim,
826Wit godds grace i sal sla him.
827Again yon wreche haiþen thing,
828For-soth haf i na dred, sir king;
829He traistes al in his aun hand,
830And ic in him es all weldand."

831To dauid said saul þe king,
832"I hope þartil þou be ful ying,
833Yon es a stalworth batail wright,
834And þou lered neuer for to fight.
835If he sla þe, als god for-bede,
836All mon we hald of haþen lede.
837Quat bot to lese þi lijf, leue page,
838And we to þam ma siþen homage?"

839"Do wai," sir king, "es noght to drede
840þat godd will help, dut es na nede

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841Apon a dai mi seep i gette,
842A bere, a leon, bath i mete;
843I had na help bot me allan,
844And drightin þat me lent his lan;
845þai soght me for to rend and riue,
846And i laid hand on þaim be-liue,
847And scok þam be þe berdes sua
848þat i þair chafftes raue in tua,
849Wit-vten glaiue or suerd or knijf,
850Bath i refte þam þair liue.
851He þat me þar þe maistre gaue,
852He me do it here to haue.
853It es noght worth, leif sir king,
854þat man in godd haue mistrouing."
855"Ga þan," he said, "in godds grith,
856þat he-self ai be þe with,
857Gaes and fottes me in hij,
858Mine aun armur to child daui."
859Helm and haubere on him þai did,
860And gird him wit a suerd emid;
861Quen þat dauid was armed sua,
862Forth a fote ne moght he ga,
863Ne forþerward ne yeitt o bake,
864Bot þar he stod als still os stake.
865His arms fra him did he suing,
866And tok bot a staf and a sling
867þat he was wont to bere in hand,
868Abute his flock o scep walcand.
869He tok fiue stans rond o quin,
870And put þam in his scrip wit-in.
871"Dos awai," he said "þis gere,
872Certes can i nan armes bere;
873Bot wit mi sling i sal him fell,
874Do ga we forth, wit-vten duell."
875Quen dauid went him forth in route,
876He sagh þe folk, þai war in dute,

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877For to gar þam wit hope to bald,
878þus he þam his resun tald.
879"Qui suld man," said he, "be sua radd
880þat es in rightwis batail stadd,
881And qua-sa fightes in wrangwisnes,
882Him helpes noght his Irinnes,
883For noiþer irin, ne yeitt ne stile,
884Mai wer man wrangwis werkes wele.
885For godd es euer on rightwis side,
886Werraiand again wrangwis pride.
887All yee wat we haue þe right,
888For-þi sal drightin for vs fight,
889He sal vs now helpe wit his grace,"
890Wit þis he come vnto þe place.

891Quen golias on him bi-held,
892Ful littel tale of him he teld,
893Bot held him als for in despite,
894And þus bigan on him to flite.
895"Quat! wynsþou i am a hund,
896Wit þi stans me for to stund?
897Cum forth wreche, wit-vten bade,
898þi flesche sal foghul fud be made."
899Dauid ansuard, "if godd wil, nai!
900I haue in drightin fest mi fai,
901Wit armes cums þou me again,
902And i agains þe al plain,
903I cum agains þe in his nam,
904þat þou has said despite and scham;
905þou has him and his in despite,
906þat wit his grace i sal þe quite.
907þi bodi sal i giue to gifte,
908To ete wit foghuls of þe lift,
909þat all mai wit þat godd o might
910Sauues noght man in wapen bright,
911Bot for to trou in him stedfast,
912And stabel in his lai to last."

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913 "þou es," coth golias, "bot ded."
914Coth dauid, "godd i tak to red."
915"Wil þou, coth goli, "fight wit me?"
916"I red be-time þou heþen fle."
917"Fle þat wynnes to haue þe warr,
918For ar i fle i sal cum nerr."
919Wit þat stan he laid in sling,
920Sua stalworthli he lete it suing
921þat in his frunt þat stan he fest,
922þat bath his eien vte can brest;
923Wit þis he fel, was na selli,
924And vte his suerd þan drou daui,
925And hedded him wit his aun brand,
926And broght it þe king to presand.
927þe sarzins war þar neigh be-side
928All fled, durst þai na langer bide,
929Bot þar was mani feld to grund,
930And mani feld wit dedes wond.

932Dauid went ham wit gret honur,
933And thanked godd, þair creatur,
934And mikel he was, þe soth to sai,
935Loued and dred forth fra þis dai.
936Wit yong and ald, wit pour and rike,
937þai louued him all o þat king-rike.
938To iursalem þat heued bar þai,
939þai karold wimmen be þe wai,
940O þair karol suilk was þe sang,
941þat þai for ioi þam sang a-mang,
942"Saul has smitten a thusand,
943Ten thussand fel in dauid hand."
944For þis word was saul wrath,
945For oft sith was he bremli brath.
946"I haue a thussand feld, hou sua!
947And dauid has ten thusand ma!

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948Quat of al es nou him wan,
949Bot þat he es noght king allan."
950For los þat dauid wan þat sith,
951Wald neuer saul lok on him blith;
952He dred his kingdom to lese,
953at þai to king suld dauid chese,
954He hated him als his ful fa,
955Fra þan he waited him to sla;
956Oft sal be quit þam on þis wise,
957þat to liþer lauerd dos seruise.

958þe toþer morn her after-ward
959þe warlau trauail saul fulhard,
960Als he was won bi-gan to rage,
961And als dauid him come to suage,
962þe king til him wit a sper
963In breth he wald him thoru ber.
964þat thoru he had his bodi born,
965If he ne had blenked him be-forn.
966Awai þan drou him son daui,
967Bot saul dred him no for-þi,
968And of a thusand men o wal,
969He made him ledder and marscal,
970And thoght, and þus said in his mode,
971"þat i him sla, it es noght god,
972Bot elles i sal him lat al-an,
973Philistiens sal be his ban."
974He asked dauid if he wald
975His doghter wedde, to haue and hald,
976To þe conuenand for to bring
977An hundreth hefds to þe king
978O þat folk þat was þar fede;
979Dauid yod forth with drightin rede.

980Wit þat vnled son dauid mete,
981And wightli wan o þam his dete.
982Again a hundret þat saul soght,
983Dauid him þar þe dubul broght;

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984þe king his doghter him gaue onan
985þat hight micol, a fair womman.
986þe king sun, hight ionathas,
987To dauid tru felau he was,
988þan bade þe kinfking wha moght ouerta,
989His magh dauid man suld him sla;
990To seke him als his ful faa;
991þar-for was Ionathas ful wa,
992And paind him, wit al his maght,
993To mak þe king and dauid saght.
994Bifor þe king he dauid broght,
995Bot efter son was alfor noght.
996Son efter þis a batail ras,
997And dauid went a-gain his faas,
998þis batail it was hard i-nogh,
999And dauid fast on his faas slogh.
1000þer mani man fell vnder scheild,
1001Bot with dauid be-left þe feild.
1002Bot yeit þe warlau þat was wont
1003Trauail þe king a litel stunt,
1004Dauid him gleud wit his harp,
1005þe king þan hent a sper scarp
1006To stair him thoru vnto þe wau;
1007Bot dauid sagh, and blenked lau.
1008In-til his hus þan dauid fledd,
1009Bot ar þe king wald ga to bedd,
1010He sent his men his hus a-bute
1011At wait þe morn quen he com vte,
1012Him to sla if þai moght mete;
1013Bot micol vte bi night him lete,
1014Vte at a priue dern postel,
1015And he him fledd to samuel,
1016þat duelland was in ramatha.
1017Son to þe king tald was it sua,
1018And his reners he þeder send
1019For to rauis dauid he wend;

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1020Bot þarto moght þai neuer win,
1021For felaghscep þat he was in,
1022And godds grace þat was him with,
1023Sauued him euer in god and grith.
1024O-mang his kin in priuete,
1025Als he war vtelau, sua wond he;
1026þe god men thoght, o þat cuntre,
1027þair suns send wit him to be.

1028Saul him soght oft her and þar,
1029Als þof his wiþerwin he war,
1030He wist if he to lijf moght stand
1031He suld be king ouer al þat land,
1032And childer of his aun sede,
1033Suld be for-driuen vte wit nede.
1034For-þi he hight þam giftes rijf,
1035þat suld bring dauid of his lijf.
1036In feild and tun, in frith and fell,
1037Saul soght dauid for to quell;
1038þat oft þe chances sua þai fell,
1039þat neli was þam noght e-mell.
1040And dauid, þat was mild o mode,
1041Again il ai wroght he gode,
1042þat oftsithes moght he him ha tan,
1043And if he wald him might ha slan;
1044For fra þe kings aun bedd
1045þus he broght a priue wedd.

1046In þat si-quar þat he him soght
1047Wit all þe mightes þat he moght,
1048He sett his tentes in a dale,
1049þar of him tald dauid na tale.
1050Quen it was naght þan cald daui,
1051An of his aun al priueli,
1052Wit him allan stilli þai went,
1053Vn-to þe kings aun tent,
1054þe king and all his folk þai fand,
1055In þair beddes ful fast slepand.

page 446

1056þe squier hight abysai,
1057þat to þe tent com wit daui,
1058"Sir," he said, "wit þe leue o yow,
1059I wil him sla ful eth es now.
1060Thoru his licam i sal him smit,
1061þat euer o him þou sal be quit."
1062Dauid þan said, "drightin for-bede
1063þat þou suld thinc to do suilk a dede,
1064Or euer him do despit or scam,
1065þat drightin smerld has in his nam."
1066Of al þat ilk kings ger,
1067Bot a cupe he tok and a sper,
1068Na mar broght he wit him vte,
1069þan slep þai al was him a-bute.
1070Sua yod he forth, nan moght him der,
1071þan he cried vnto þat her,
1072"How ha yee gett your king," said he,
1073"His cupe, his sper, lok quar þai be,
1074þat war bath don at his heued,
1075Lokes nou þar if þai be leued."

1076Quen king saul had herd þat cri,
1077"Es þat," he said, "mi sun daui?"
1078"Ya, soth," said dauid, "it es i,
1079Quarfor me sekes þou, and qui?
1080Gladli wald i be on-knaun
1081Qui sekes þou me þat es þi naun?"
1082"Soth," said saul, "wit-vten wene,
1083þe mis es min, þat es wel sene."
1084"Nou her i leue þe kinges glaiue,
1085Yee send a man at it receiue,
1086He þat al rightes wit na ros
1087Sal ilk man yeild after he dos."

1088Son efterward, it was not lang,
1089Gain saul þai gaf batail strang,
1090þaa sarzins þan þe king vm-sett,
1091In hard strur þai samen mett,

page 448

1092Ful snaip it was þair stur and snell,
1093þe folk al fled of israel.
1094þar þai fell þat moght not fle,
1095O-pon þe mont o gelboe,
1096Dughti berns was þer slan,
1097þe king suns and Ionatan.
1098O þis batail þat was sa snell,
1099þe force a-pon þe king it fell,
1100Mani gode archer þan was þar
1101þe king saul was wonded sare.
1102þan said þe king til his squier,
1103þou dragh þi suerd and sla me her,
1104Or þat i be, mai fall, ouertan,
1105Wit hand o sarzin and slan.
1106þe squier did noght als he badd,
1107For he-self first was selcuth radd,
1108þan drogh saul self his suord
1109And ran him-self a-pon þe ord.
1110Quen his squier him sagh þus ded,
1111He did him-self þat ilk red,
1112Apon his aune suerd he res.
1113And wit his lauerd ded he es,
1114þat was a murnand dai to min,
1115O saul and his suns thrin,
1116And al his folk þat was kene,
1117Slan ar þei now al bidene.
1118þe sarzins on þat toþer dai
1119Fand quare saul bodi lai,
1120þe hefd þai smat of o þe king,
1121And sent his bodi for to hing.
1122His men þam come on nightertale,
1123Wit þaim a-wai his bodi stale,
1124And priuelie it for to hide,
1125þai duelled in a wod side.
1126Fourti winter was he king,
1127And now yee herd haue his ending.

1128It was a king o mikel pris,
1129Wight he was worthi and wis,
1130þis ilk king þat i of mon
1131He had an anlepe son,
1132þat wit his fader was sa wele
1133þat wist his wisdom ilk dele,
1134In all wisdoms was he rike,
1135And algat til his fader like;
1136Of a will wit him and a might,
1137His fader wroght wit his insight,
1138All þat his fader wald ha wroght
1139Thoru him til end it suld be broght.
1140And doghtres four þan had þis king,
1141To quam ilkan he gaf sum-thing
1142Of his might and of his bounte,
1143Als feird to has sli sisteres fre,
1144Ilkan sum-dri gift he gaue
1145Parti wit him-self to haue,
1146Bath of his wisdom and his might,
1147Als ilkan fell to haue be right.
1148Of his sustenance he gaf ilkan,
1149And ilkan gaf he substance an,
1150Als to þair fader it aght to fere,
1151Wit-vten quilk on na manere
1152Moght he in pes his kingrik yeme,
1153Ne rightwisdome þar-in to deme.

page 550

1154þair names sal yee here for-qui,
1155þe first o þam was cald merci,
1156þe toþer was hatten sothfastnes,
1157þe thrid o dom þe rightwisnes,
1158Pees þe feirth sister hight;
1159Wit-vten þir has king na might
1160For to lede his lauerdhede.
1161þis ilk king, þat i of rede,
1162A seruand had in his baili
1163þat gain his lauerd had don foli,
1164And thoru dom þat loked was,
1165Was don to pine for his trespas,
1166And til his aun fa felun
1167Was he be-taght for to prisun,
1168For he ne had neuer sa gret envie,
1169Als þis man for to be baillie.
1170Quils he was in þat prisun sua,
1171His witherwin him wroght ful wa;
1172Quen merci sagh him suagat be
1173Of him sco can haf pite,
1174Sco moght hir forbere nathing,
1175Bot forth sco went be-for þe king
1176For to sceu him hir resun,
1177And forto liuer vte þat prisun.
1178"Fader," sco said, "þi doghter am i,
1179Als þi-self wat witerli,
1180Fild i am of buxumnes,
1181O mikel reuth and o suetnes,
1182þi gift es me leue mi dere fader,
1183For-þi þou here nu mi praier,
1184O þis wreche prisun þat es,
1185þat he moght haue forgiunes,
1186þat lijs vnder his witherwin,
1187Bath in prisun stad and pin;
1188þat thoru a fals hight him bisuak,
1189And did sua to do gret vtrak,

page 552

1190þat falser falshed him es hight,
1191þat falshede sekes dai and night,
1192And falshede to þam yolden be,
1193And þe prisun be sald to me.
1194For þou art, als all knaus þe,
1195King o mekenes and o pite.
1196þin eldest doghter þou wat i am,
1197Of all þin werkes es mi nam,
1198þi doghter ne aght i neuem me,
1199Bot i ne of him ne had pite.
1200Merci he aght to haue wit right,
1201For þin grett wijt and þin insight,
1202And þi pite þat es sa suete
1203Aght þi prisun o bandes bete.
1204I sal noght fine merci to cri
1205Bituixand he haue þi merci."
1206Quen sothfastnes herd þis talking
1207þat merci þus bisoght þe king,
1208And þat sco was algat a-bute
1209For to bij his prisun vte,
1210Be-for þe king fote sco stode,
1211And said, "leue fader fair and gode,
1212Sli selcut haue i herd to-dai,
1213þat i mai not forber to sai
1214O mi sister suete þat es,
1215Merci, þat wit hir suetnes
1216His prisun wald deliuerd war,
1217þe quilk sothfastnes wald for-fare.
1218Bot merci no hir aght spede
1219Bot if þat sothfastnes it lede.
1220If mi sister saue moght all
1221þat sco wald for cri or call,
1222þou suld þan be duted noght,
1223Ne man misdedes suld be boght.
1224Bot þou ert king þat es sothfast
1225O rightwisnes, and sua stedfast

page 554

1226þat þou will soth here euer and ai;
1227And þis prisun þat i o sai
1228þat pite of him-self had noght,
1229Hu sal oþer reu of him oght?
1230Dome be-houes him thol for-þi
1231All his misdede wit for to by."

1232Vp-stode and said sir nichodeme,
1233"God men, for goddes luue tas yeme
1234Quat yee sai, and sais bot right,
1235And has sum drednes o your dright;
1236Ne herd yee quat þis thre men said,
1237And on your lai þair hend þai laid
1238And suar, þat þai and oþer fele
1239Sagh iesum wit his meigne mele
1240And stei up in a littel stunt
1241Til heuen fra oliuete þe mont?
1242And hali storis tels and sais
1243þat helias, in ald dais,
1244Was taken up als vnto heuen, -
1245I-nogh ha yee herd þar-of neuen; -
1246His sun men asked quar he was cummen,
1247And he þam said he was be-nummen,
1248'Reft awai for-soth es he
1249'Reft,' coth þai, 'hu mai þis be?
1250Mai fall sum gast awai him ledd,
1251And es vnto þe felles fledd.
1252In israel er hei felles.
1253þar es he soth and noþer elles:
1254Bot chese we dughti men and lele
1255To seke þe montz of israel.'
1256þai praid his sun him ga to seke,
1257And he went and oþer men him eke,
1258Bot quen þai thre dais had him soght,
1259Na tiþand hame of him þai broght.
1260For-þi," said nichodeme, to þaa,
1261"Mi rede es if yee rede nenu sua,
1262Yee seke þaa felles all to-gedir,
1263þat iesus be noght rauist þider,
1264þat if we find him þar wit chaunce
1265We mai do for up plight penance."

1266All þe Iuus, less and mare,
1267O þis consail þai paid war,
1268And ches men þat þai wel a-woud
1269And wel right als þaim-self þai troud;
1270Bath þai soght þaim don and dale,
1271Bot o iesu herd þai na tale.
1272Walawai! quat þai war blind,
1273Quen þai wend iesum sua to find.
1274For him to find qua will him seke,
1275þair mode til him þai most meke
1276To knau him godd of all weldand,
1277þan sal he find him bun at hand,
1278Mightili in al his nede,
1279To suilk he wil his bodi bede.
1280For þof he sitt in heuen hall,
1281Yeitt es he þar-wit ouer all,
1282Mightili bath ferr and nere,
1283And mist noiþer in heuen þen here.
1284þai þat traistli in him truus,
1285His blissing to þaa men he buus;
1286Bot sua did noght þir caitif Iuus,
1287Sent in to clinttes and in to clous
1288To seke iesu if he was reft,
1289Wit ani gast and þar bi-left;
1290He þat alle gastes, god and ill,
1291Has for to weld all at his will!
1292For-þi þaa Iuus war full medd,
1293þair sandes come again vn-spedd
1294þai war for-soght þam vp and dun;
1295Bot ioseph in his aun tun,
1296þai said þai fand, in aramathi,
1297For þar þai sagh him sikerli.
1298Princes and preistes o þe lai,
1299All on þis tiþand wonder þai,
1300And thanked þair godd of israel,
1301þat sua-gat can his dedis dele,

page 1010

1302þat ioseph suld be funden þus
1303þat prisund was, and noght iesus.

1304þai mad a gadring gret in dern,
1305"God men," þai said, "lok we nu gern,
1306Hu we moght do yon dughti gum,
1307Ioseph, until us for to cum,
1308To tel vs of his aun state,
1309And oþer thinges þat he wate."
1310þai did þan for to write a writt -
1311þis þan was þe tenur of hit.
1312"Pais," þai said, "ioseph and grith,
1313Haf þou and all þat es þe wit,
1314We haf we wat wel don plight,
1315Bath agains þe and dright,
1316And þat-self drightin has to broght
1317Fra wicked wrang we on þe soght.
1318It sal be beit al þe to queme;
1319Wald þou me leif freind to seme
1320For to cum wit us to mele;
1321Pais haf þou, Ioseph, and hele."

1322þai send forth seuen men o wale,
1323War mast to ioseph speciale,
1324And badd quen þai wit ioseph mett,
1325Wit pais and luue he suld be grett.
1326Son in his hand he þe letter sett,
1327For wel suld all þe brest be bett.
1328Ioseph þai faand, þe stori sais,
1329Al bun at ham in his palais;
1330þai hailsed him wit-vten let,
1331And raght him for to rede þat scritte.
1332Quen he had þat letter redde,
1333Vp til-ward heuen his hend he bedd,
1334"I blisce þe, lauerd, þou me has gett
1335And sauf vnder þi wenges sett;"
1336þaa messagers he kist þam all,
1337And hendli gesten þam in hall,

page 1012

1338Ful wel war þai wit him þat night.
1339þe morn his ass þan can he dight,
1340To ierusalem he tok þe strete,
1341þe Iuus cum him for to mete.
1342And all þai said ioseph to-gedir,
1343"Paisful bi þi cuming hider."
1344And ioseph sli greting þam gaf,
1345"Godds peis mot yee all haf,"
1346He kist þaim all, wit-vten blin,
1347Wit nichodeme he tok his hin,
1348He was gestend ful wel at es.
1349þe toþer morn, als þe stori sais,
1350Come caiphas, anna, nichodemus,
1351þat ioseph did to resun þus,

1352"Ioseph, to godd of israel
1353Scriue þe, and sai þe soth and lele
1354O thing þat we sal at þe frain,
1355þe soth we prai þe noght to lain,
1356All we cund þe mikel graim
1357For iesu þou grufe his licam;
1358In a hus we lokked þe,
1359Bot quen we com þe for to se,
1360O þe na takning fand we þar,
1361Quarfor we for-wondred ware,
1362And war we for þe dredand sare
1363Til nu. tel us nu o þi fare,
1364To godd and hus, wit-vten hon,
1365þou tell quat thing o þe was don."

1366Ioseph ansuard, "i sal yow sai,
1367Yee sperd me soth on a fridai,
1368At euen-tide in to þat stede;
1369And als i stod saiand mi bede,
1370þe seterdai, þan at mid-night,
1371þat i þar sagh suilk was þe sight.
1372Bi nokes four þe hous up hang,
1373And son þar-efter, was noght lang,

page 1014

1374I sagh cumand iesu sa bright,
1375Als þof it were o leuening light,
1376Vntil þe hus þar i was stadd,
1377And fell i dun, sa was i radd;
1378Vp he me lift, wit-vten lett,
1379And wit a deu mi face he wette,
1380And quen he wipped had mi face,
1381He blisced me all wit his grace,
1382And said, 'ioseph be noght sori,
1383Bi-hald on me, þis ilk es i.'
1384Bi-heild him als i was
1385And cald him maister helias,
1386'Helias es i noght,' he said,
1387'Bot iesus þat in graue þou laid.'
1388He ledd me to þat sted onan,
1389þar i had luked him in stan,
1390His fasciale, his windingclath,
1391þar war þai left, i sagh þam bath.
1392þat it was iesus þan wist i wel,
1393And cuthli for him can i knele,
1394And i said, 'ai lauerd! blisced þou be
1395And þat es cummen in nam o þe,'
1396And bi þe hand þan he me hent,
1397And forth me broght, wit-vten stent,
1398Right to min aun hus at hame,
1399And to mi quem i þeder came,
1400'Pes,' he said, 'haf þou ioseph,
1401Ga þou noght o þi hus a stepe
1402Til fourti dais be cummen til end,
1403For i to mi disciplis wend.' "
1404Quen nichodeme his tale has teld,
1405þai fell als þai in duale war dueld,
1406Gruflinges dun to erth plate, -
1407War neuer þaa Iuus als mate.
1408And ilkan can til oþer sai,
1409"Quat a sing es þis!" coth þai,

page 1016

1410"In israel we here nu min
1411We knau bath ioseph and his kin."
1412Vp þai ras and stode þam bi,
1413A dughti gum þat hight leui,
1414"I kneu," he said, "of his kin bredd
1415Dughti men þat drightin dredd,
1416Desseli to godd praiand,
1417Wit sacrifijs and wit offrand,
1418Quen symeon, þat mikel prist,
1419þat bar the hali-gast in brest,
1420þat iesus tuix his handes fang,
1421And said, 'lauerd liued haf i lang
1422Bidand to se þe light of hel
1423þat þou has dight to israel;
1424Nu haf i sene it wit min ei,
1425Lat nu in rest þi seruand dei.'
1426þat ilk symeon þar was bun,
1427Gaf sant mari his benisun,
1428And til hir said, 'i wil þe warn
1429þat quilum sal þis ilk barn
1430Be to sum men in uprising,
1431Til oþer sum in dun falling;
1432He sal find mani bern vn-bain,
1433For mani sal him sai again.
1434Of his ded als þe sorful ord
1435Sal thril þin hert thoru als a suord.
1436O mani hert þe thoghtes hidd
1437Sal for him be knaun and kydd.'"
1438þan said þe Iuus, "do þan send wee
1439Efter þaa ilk preistes thre
1440þat tald þat þai sagh iesu sitte
1441Apon þe mont of oliuete."
1442And sua þai did, quen sua was dun
1443þaa men þai did to resun sun,
1444And þai ansuard, "be godd o might,
1445We sagh him þar wit open sight.

page 1018

1446We sagh him þar and herd his steuen,
1447And openli stegh in til heuen."
1448"On yow," he said, "al thinc us wonder,
1449And þaa thre men þan at sundre,
1450And asked ilkan seluen sere,
1451O þair for-king fain wald þai here,
1452If ani gain oþer sai wald oght,
1453Bot all þair fanding was for noght,
1454For all þai said soth þat þai sei
1455þat ilk iesu til heuen vp stei.

1456þan said anna and caiphas,
1457"Vr lagh will, bath þat es and was,
1458þat in þe muth o tua or thre
1459Suld alkin soth stand and be."
1460"And quat thing sal we sai yow þan?
1461I-nogh was of a rightwis man,
1462And paid sa wel godd in his state,
1463þat wit his word he was translate.
1464And o þe prophet als moyses
1465þat nan wat quar he doluen es.
1466Bot iesus, þat in hand was laght,
1467And to sir pilat was bi-taght,
1468Bath bi-scurget and bi-spit, -
1469For he o mani plight was wijt, -
1470Wonded wit spere, naild on tre,
1471Wit thorns crund als was he;
1472þis menskful ioseph did him delue
1473In tumb þat wroght was til him-selfe,
1474And als thre men witnes her,
1475þai sagh bi-for þair eien clere
1476þis ilk iesus spekand wit his,
1477And siþen stei til heuen blis."

1478þe grace o godd es gret and gode,
1479þat gis vs samples o þe rode,
1480Mar mightes has vr lauerd wroght,
1481þan ani man mai thing in thoght,
1482Bot mani o trouth es sua vn-slei,
1483þai tru noght bot þat þai se wit ei;
1484And þat vnnethes will þai tru,
1485Wit-vten signe o gret vertu;
1486For me-think if þe sothe be soght,
1487þat sin first þe werld was wroght,
1488Meracles o þe cros might
1489Has ben in semblance and in sight.
1490Ouer and vnder, right and left,
1491In þis compas godd all has left.
1492Bot-if man of him-self be blind,
1493Vm-thinc him wel he sal it find
1494þe licknes o þis tre sa tru,
1495In þe ald lagh was be-for þe neu,
1496In þe neu lagh alsua sere,
1497þat sum er gode of for to here.
1498I thinc þis es þe tre o blis
1499þat rightwisnes til bunden es,
1500Had adam funden it at hand
1501þar-wit he moght ha lijfd lastand;
1502þat planted es in paradise,
1503And dos þe ded vp for to rise;
1504And adam quen he wroght had wogh,
1505Vnder þis tre he him drogh,

page 1240

1506þar did him drightin to resun
1507And did him in hope o pardun.
1508þe blod of abel it cried als
1509Quen him had slain his broþer fals.
1510Wit-in þat cri was grett thing hidd,
1511þat in þis cros es kidd,
1512And ded for-soth had ben noe
1513If him ne sauued had þe tre.
1514O four corner þe arche was made,
1515Als has þe cros on lang and brade,
1516þe dor on þe arche apon þe side,
1517And þar was iesus wonded wide.
1518Qua will vmthinc him in his mod
1519Mai find fele takens o þe rode.

1520Vr lauerd gaf moises a wand
1521To wirc sum maistris wit in hand,
1522Siþen was it worm, efter yerd,
1523Als men i-nogh for-wit has herd.
1524þat wel bi-takend þat cipres,
1525þar-of was wernist moyses,
1526Bath in word and als in dede.
1527Quen israel vte of egypte yed,
1528O þat blisced lambs blod
1529A cros was mad in signe o rode,
1530þaa þat cros had on þaim draun,
1531Vr lauerd þam sauued als his aun,
1532All þaas oþer ne war bot tint
1533Bitaght vn-to þe angls dint.
1534Quen þe nedders þat war fell,
1535þe folk stanged of israel,
1536Quen þai welk in þe wildernes
1537Vnder þe wand o moyses,
1538A nedder was seitt up apon a tre,
1539þat quen þe stanged men moght se
1540þe nedder on þe tre þat hang,
1541þai war all warist o þair stang.

page 1242

1542Quen þat þai faght als þai did oft
1543And moises held his hand o-loft,
1544To-quils he heild his hend on croice,
1545Ai haid his aun folk þe voice.
1546Quen strijf was bute þe preisthede
1547In þaa dais mang þe Iuus lede,
1548To tuelue men taght þai wandes tuelue,
1549Ilkan merked his him-self,
1550And said quilk wand þat suld bere blome
1551Suld haf þe preistes-hede wit dome,
1552þar florist an als yee herd haf herd
1553þe cros takening, þat ilk yerd.
1554Heliseus on oþer wise
1555Did a dedman for to rise,
1556þe staf þat he apon him did,
1557O cros it bar þe taken-hid.
1558Quen dauid faght gain þat etin,
1559Ne has ne noght his staf for-getin,
1560Vntil þe batail he it bar,
1561Moght na king suerd do mar.
1562þe signe o tav in ald laies
1563Bitakens cros nu in vr daies,
1564þe men þat þar-wit takend war,
1565Oft it helped fra misfar.
1566Tau and cros bath er als an,
1567Bot tav has yerd a-bouen nan;
1568O cros in þe ald testament
1569Was bisening, qua sa to cuth tent.
1570Cros es, qua-sum wil or nai,
1571Baner of hali kirc to dai;
1572Men has noght herd þat folk be lorn
1573þat hali crose has wit þam born,
1574Bot has bitid oft mani quar,
1575þat less folk ouercummen þe mar.
1576þar stad was cros at ani fight,
1577If þe dede be tan wit right.

page 1244

1578O cros to tell for-get i noght,
1579On cros the formast man was wroght,
1580On cros þe first of all wiues,
1581On cros godd boght ur saul liues,
1582þar-on he gaf him-seluen ranscun,
1583And of him-seluen mad gunphanun.